2026 The Year of the Horse
Open to the Public Friday, January 30, 2026 – Sunday, May 31, 2026
Many people are familiar with the Gregorian calendar used in Europe and North America, which is a solar calendar based on earth’s orbit around the sun. A solar year is 365 days long. The lunar calendar follows the movements of the moon and is approximately 354 days in duration. The lunar calendar was used from 604 C.E., however, in 1873 the nation officially changed to the solar calendar. 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac system, also used in Japan. To celebrate, images of horses will be featured in the Kohnken gallery. Objects will include paintings, prints, sculptures, textiles and banners. In particular, it is the year of the Fire Horse, which is associated with strong, fiery, and dynamic personalities. People born in a Fire Horse year (like 1966 or 2026) are believed to be intelligent, charismatic, and enthusiastic, with a strong desire for freedom and independence. They are often seen as adventurous, quick-witted, and ambitious, but can also be impulsive and stubborn.
In this gallery you will find an assortment of different materials to celebrate the Year of the Horse. Look for ceremonial objects, toys, paintings, woodblock prints, small sculptures, decorations and a banner. The objects came from various donors including the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Mike Marcus, and Thomas Winant – as well as Museum Purchases funded by our members. All of the objects are part of the Morikami Museum Collection and were received between 1984 and 2025.
Yōkai: Scenes of the Supernatural in Japanese Woodblock Prints
Open Thursday, April 9, 2026 – Saturday, August 29, 2026
Yōkai are mysterious phenomena and bizarre beasts that have inhabited Japan’s landscapes, homes, folklore and imagination for many centuries. They can be evil or benign spirits, ranging from shape-shifting animals to vengeful ghosts. Many of these creatures and their activities have been described in folklore, legends and historical texts, gradually becoming the subjects of paintings and theater. This exhibition presents 90 works—featuring woodblock prints and printed books (e-hon) spanning over 250 years—that explore the realm of the supernatural.
The prints and printed books in this exhibition are from the collection of Scripps College in Claremont, California.